Saturday, June 30, 2012

Natural Remedy of the Week: Eye Strain

If your eyes are red, itchy and burning and begging for attention because
you’re an author and you've been tapping away on the computer, or a reader and enjoying cozy mysteries, take a time out and
give them some genuine nurturing. Try these natural remedies for soothing, fast relief:

2.Make a
herbal eyewash by bringing to a boil one cup of distilled water. Remove it from
the heat and add 1 heaping teaspoon of an astringent and anti-inflammatory herb
to cool the eyes such as chamomile, cornflower, elderflower, eyebright,
marshmallow root, peppermint or black tea. Cover and allow it to steep 15
minutes. Strain well (through a clean coffee filter). When the tea is cool, it
can be placed into a clean eyecup several times daily while standing over the
sink, gently apply and bathe the eyes. Make
fresh each day to avoid introducing any bacteria into the eyes.

3.Make a
compress. Soak a small clean cloth in the chilled brew from step #2 and lie
down and relax with it over the eyes. Calendula flowers can also be used as
compress or drops since they are anti-inflammatory and a circulatory stimulant.
Try antiseptic and nutritive violet leaves in a compress or as an eyewash for
sore eyes too.